MY GOLDEN KURDISTAN

My Golden Kurdistan is about what endures—resilience, memory, and identity that can’t be contained. I displace denim across the body, shifting familiar pieces out of place—jeans becoming structure, fragments layered and worn in new ways. It reflects what’s imposed on us, and what we choose to keep. The cascading zipper heads are inspired by belly-dancing adornments—they move like jewelry, like rhythm. Even through everything, there is still joy, still movement, still life. It’s about stripping things back, layer by layer, until what’s left is yours

PHOTOGRAPHER: CECILIA NGUYEN

MODELS: PEARL

HAIV

HAIV, meaning moon, reflects the fluid, shifting nature of this piece. The black stretch jumpsuit can be draped and styled in multiple ways, allowing the wearer to shape it to their own form. Like the moon, it is never fixed—always becoming, exploring individuality through transformation and movement

PHOTOGRAPHER: CECILIA NGUYEN

MODEL: SOPHIE MCGARVEY

SECOND SKIN

This upcycled knitwear look explores the duality of consumption and protection through layered elements that embody tension and release. A fine rib-knit dress is paired with an ivory half-cardigan, hand-linked at the waist to maintain continuity in stitch structure. The striped knit scarf is machine-knitted and wrapped at the waist, introducing contrast in gauge, texture, and direction while creating fluidity within the silhouette.

PHOTOGRAPHER: CECILIA NGUYEN

MODEL: SOPHIE MCGARVEY

DENIM, REWRITTEN

Developed for my freshman-year final, this piece marks the first time I was able to fully realize an idea I’ve explored since I was young—displacing garments across the body. These wide-leg jeans feature a detachable peplum skirt, allowing the silhouette to shift between sculptural volume and a more elongated form. The design reflects an early articulation of reassignment and transformation—ideas that continue to define my work today.

PHOTOGRAPHER: VEEN AKRAWI

MODEL: SARAH HORNBUCKLE

SPÎ

This design features a white four-way stretch bodysuit with a draped cowl finished in pearl stitching, extending elegantly around the arms. Paired with bold argyle stockings, the look balances refined details with dynamic accents for a blend of elegance and edge.

PHOTOGRAPHER: CECILIA NGUYEN

MODEL: SOPHIE MCGARVEY

THE JARFISH

Influenced by the resilient and transformative nature of the starfish, my garment is a tribute to the strength and elegance of the ocean. It is sewn entirely from denim, a material known for its durability and adaptability. This piece was the capstone of my AAS degree in Fashion Design at FIT. The theme was "Divine Denim"

PHOTOGRAPHER: CECILIA NGUYEN

MODEL: KATARINA OSTROV

TAILORED IN WATER

Shot at my childhood lake, this look explores the tension between structure and memory. A double-breasted lightweight wool jacket with a structured notch collar and tailored flap pockets draws from traditional suiting—precision, symmetry, and control. Placed within water, the garment is softened by movement and reflection while maintaining its form. Styled with playful references to my mother’s polka-dot rain boots, the look infuses structure with nostalgia, creating a balance between discipline and ease.

PHOTOGRAPHER: VEEN AKRAWI

MODEL: SOPHIA PLANCICH

Worn Wrong, Habibti

What began as a mistake—wearing a skirt, unzipped and repositioned at the chest—became a study in transformation. This dress resists its original function, reshaping itself around the body. In this misplacement, a new language of form appears. DONT OFRGET TAB

VEEN AKRAWI, 2025

ZIPPER HEAD MANIAC

I thought I had finished all my fabric manipulations bur et wfiehsnio

VEEN AKRAWI, 2025

VEEN AKRAWI, 2025